Lucia Silecchia, professor, law, was interviewed on EWTN News Nightly (minute 4:04) on a conference on Laudato Si sponsored by CUA and the USCCB. Silecchia; Chad Pecknold, assoicate professor, systematic theology; and Kevin Irwin, research professor, theology, were quoted in a Catholic News Service Story on the Conference. See below.

Family said to be key to pope's vision as expressed in encyclical

The family can play a vital role in the world's response to Pope Francis' call to better care for creation and be in solidarity with people on society's margins, attendees at a Catholic University of America conference heard.

Chad Pecknold, associate professor of systemic theology at the university, reviewed how the pope repeatedly cites the importance of protecting and supporting the family in his encyclical, "Laudato Si', on Care for Our Common Home," during the Oct. 26 event that unpacked the document from the perspective of faith and science.

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Msgr. Kevin W. Irwin, professor of liturgical studies and sacramental theology at the university, reviewed the documents examining various aspects of Catholic social teaching in the works extending from the Second Vatican Council as well as the teachings of St. John XXIII, Blessed Paul VI, St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, who has been called the "green pope."

He explained that Pope Francis drew upon the writings of his predecessors to state his concerns for the direction of the world overall. He said that the pope is concerned that humanity has sidestepped its responsibility to maintain right relationships among people as well as with the planet on which people live.

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Lucia A. Silecchia, Catholic University's vice provost for policy and the conference's main organizer, told Catholic News Service that the conference was designed to explore how the pope's messages can be taken into the classroom. It is expected that it would then go out into parish pews and other circles by the students learning about the document, she said.

Likewise, the church's global presence can help bring greater awareness of the challenges facing people living in poverty and confronting environmental degradation around the world as expressed in the encyclical, Silecchia explained.

"When the church speaks about these issues it's a global perspective that's not political," she said. "It's not economic. It's not military, but it's based on experience that comes from so many places."